Endoxyla cinereus

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Endoxyla cinereus
Endoxyla cinereus (ento-csiro-au).jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Cossidae
Genus: Endoxyla
Species:
E. cinereus
Binomial name
Endoxyla cinereus
(Tepper, 1890)
Synonyms
  • Cossus cinereusTepper, 1890
  • Xyleutes boisduvaliRothschild, 1896
  • Cossus cinerensFrogatt, 1907
  • Xyleutes boisduvalliFroggatt, 1923

Endoxyla cinereus, the giant wood moth, is a moth in the family Cossidae. [1] It is found in Australia (Queensland, New South Wales) and New Zealand. [2] The species was first described in 1890. A rare contemporary sighting of the moth at a school in Australia garnered notice as an editor's pick among the daily headlines of the New York Times on May 8, 2021. [3]

Contents

It is the heaviest moth in the world; weighing up to 30 g. [4] Its wingspan is approximately 23 cm, or just over nine inches. A variable pattern of light and dark grey or brown appears on the wings of this moth species.

The larvae bore into the trunks of trees of the Eucalyptus species. Pupation takes place in the larval tunnel. [5]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Witchetty grub</span> Common name for a moth larva

The witchetty grub is a term used in Australia for the large, white, wood-eating larvae of several moths. In particular, it applies to the larvae of the cossid moth Endoxyla leucomochla, which feeds on the roots of the witchetty bush that is widespread throughout the Northern Territory and also typically found in parts of Western Australia and South Australia, although it is also found elsewhere throughout Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cossidae</span> Family of moths

The Cossidae, the cossid millers or carpenter millers, make up a family of mostly large miller moths. This family contains over 110 genera with almost 700 known species, and many more species await description. Carpenter millers are nocturnal Lepidoptera found worldwide, except the Southeast Asian subfamily Ratardinae, which is mostly active during the day.

<i>Endoxyla encalypti</i> Species of moth

Endoxyla encalypti, the wattle goat moth, is an endangered giant moth of the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded along the eastern coast from Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania.

<i>Endoxyla lituratus</i> Species of moth

Endoxyla lituratus is a moth of the family Cossidae. It is found throughout Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeuzerinae</span> Subfamily of moths

The Zeuzerinae are a subfamily of the family Cossidae.

<i>Endoxyla</i> (moth) Genus of moths

Endoxyla is a genus of moths in the family Cossidae.

Endoxyla amphiplecta is a species of moth of the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Endoxyla columbina is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Queensland and New South Wales.

Endoxyla opposita is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.

Endoxyla decorata is a moth in the family Cossidae first described by Charles Swinhoe in 1892. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Western Australia.

Endoxyla macleayi is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from New South Wales and southern Queensland.

Endoxyla magniguttata is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from New South Wales and Queensland.

Endoxyla neuroxantha is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

Endoxyla phaeocosma is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Northern Australia.

Endoxyla punctifimbria is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.

Endoxyla stenoptila is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded in Queensland.

Endoxyla tenebrifer is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Queensland.

Endoxyla vittata, the orange-lined wood moth, is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Western Australia.

Endoxyla zophoplecta is a moth in the family Cossidae. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Northern Australia and Queensland.

References

  1. ↑ "The Global Lepidoptera Names Index". Natural History Museum. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Yakovlev, R.V., 2011: Catalogue of the Family Cossidae of the Old World. Neue Entomologische Nachrichten, 66: 1-129.
  3. ↑ Cramer, Maria, This Moth Is Huge in Australia , The New York Times, Saturday, May 8, 2021
  4. ↑ Giant Wood Moth, The Australian Museum
  5. ↑ "lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-09.

Further reading


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